No change of success of this initiative: New Army chief

16 July,2016

RTNN News Desk: Preventing a coup attempt was not too difficult for the army, and new units arriving on Saturday will strengthen the position of the army in Istanbul, said Acting Chief of General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces Gen. Umit Dundar.

"The probability of success of this initiative is zero," he said”.

Earlier, First Army Commander Umit Dundar was appointed Chief of General Staff by proxy after a coup attempt.

Sixty people died during overnight clashes, many of them civilians, and 754 soldiers were arrested, officials said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has addressed thousands of flag-waving supporters outside Istanbul`s Ataturk Airport and tells them he is charge and coup won`t succeed.

Erdogan says: "They have pointed the people`s guns against the people. The president, whom 52 percent of the people brought to power, is in charge. This government brought to power by the people, is in charge. They won`t succeed as long as we stand against them by risking everything.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the situation was largely under control.

He has ordered the military to shoot down aircraft being used by coup plotters.

Meanwhile, the army`s top general and military chief of staff, Hulusi Akar, has been rescued by security forces at an air base northwest of Ankara, the capital.

It had earlier been reported that he had been taken hostage during the coup attempt.